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Monday, July 29, 2013

Updates at http://calfire.blogspot.com/2013/07/ca-snf-aspen-wildlandfire-50-acres.htmlIncident:Aspen FireSierra National Forest WildfireIncident StatisticsAcres Burned: 11019 Structures Threatened: 3Containment: 20% Structures Damaged: 0Fire Start Date: July 22, 2013 Injuries: 0Fire Cause: Lightning Total Personnel: 1479Cost to date: $5.7 millionSummary The Fire is located within the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County and is approximately seven miles North of Big Creek. It is currently burning off Stump Springs Road, North of Aspen Springs. The South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team is in command of the Aspen Fire.

Over the past several days, the inversion layer has caused smoke to accumulate in the low laying areas of the fire which hampers visibility of firefighters on the ground and in the air. As the smoke clears in the early afternoon, a more defined smoke column(s) may be seen from several miles away.

Recreation and businesses remain open in the Shaver Lake, HuntingtonLake, Lake Thomas Edison, FlorenceLake and the Mono Hot Springs areas.

Fire Update Firefighter and public safety remains the highest priority. Fire crews are being sensitive to environmental and cultural resources in and around the fire area.

Due to the extremely steep, rugged and inaccessible terrain, fire crews are using a tactic called indirect attack which creates control lines away from the fires active edge. Air resources, including several helicopters and air tankers are being utilized along the fire-line to slow the forward progress of the fire and to cool down hot spots. As the situation changes and firefighters can safely gain access to the fire, a more direct attack will be implemented.

Smoke from the Aspen Fire continues to impact air quality in local communities. Individuals sensitive to smoke are advised to remain indoors and keep windows closed to minimize exposure to smoke. For more information regarding smoke visit: www.valleyair.orgRoad and Trail Closures

Roads: Stump Springs Roadis closed to all traffic due to fire suppression activity.Minarets Road (4S81) from Fish Creek to Jackass Rock Organization Campground, Grizzly atBeasore RoadtoMinarets Roadare closed to the public. Residents within the road closure are allowed into the area with valid identification.

Trails:Per the U.S. Forest Service Closure Order Number 15-13-09, all trails within the Kaiser Wilderness are closed.

EvacuationsCampground closures within the Sierra National Forest are as follows:

Sample Meadow West Kaiser

Jackass Rock Organization Lower Chiquito

Little Jackass Soda Springs

Placer Sweet Water

ChinaBar Rock Creek

Mammoth Pool Wagners Mammoth Pool Resort

Fish Creek

The following campgrounds are closed to house firefighters for suppression efforts:

Midge Creek, Badger Flat

Rancheria.

Cooperating agencies include: The U.S. Forest Service, National Parks Service, U.S. Department of Defense, National Weather Service, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Fresno County Sheriff, Madera County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Southern California Edison, PG&E, California Conservation Corp.For more information on this press release or if you have questions regarding the information, please contact the Aspen Fire Information line at (559) 893-7018.

Updated information can also be obtained by following the Sierra National Forest Twitter Account: @sierra_nf

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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.View blog top tags---------------------

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state.
In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire
will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can
also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start –
a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly
naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and
allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name.
For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest
wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was
named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old
Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was
named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.
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